Chapter 31
To Maia,
I’ve heard that many unfortunate things have happened to you lately.
Right now, I don’t know how you’re doing.
As you asked in your last letter, I’ll be heading east to finalize a new business deal.
I won’t be in the Empire for about four months.
I sincerely hope you’re well.
P.S. I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with the Tower’s Lord, but your counterpart is the Duke of Western.
Even the children of the Empire know that the imperial family is backing the Duke.
The Mage Tower may be a sanctuary untouched by secular power, but the imperial family is still the imperial family.
Perhaps it’s an unnecessary concern, but please be cautious in your dealings.
“…Mother.”
Maia gently set down the letter she held and whispered softly.
Two weeks ago, as Enoch had mentioned in advance, he and Maia’s mother had departed for the distant eastern lands.
The great empire that ruled the eastern continent was called “Han.”
Originally a single nation, decades ago a fierce struggle for the throne between the legitimate imperial princess and the first imperial prince—born of a concubine—split the vast lands into two: Donghan, ruled by the empress, and Seohan, under the emperor. The state of civil war between the two remains unresolved.
In cases where the prince lacks capability, the princess inherits the throne. This succession tradition has long been followed in the Adelstein Empire.
However, the eastern empire, which distinguishes sharply between men and women, has continued a prolonged war even after the former emperor named the first princess as his successor—simply because she is a woman, and the powerful nobility rallied behind the prince.
“…Did she really have to go?”
It made Maia uneasy knowing her mother had gone to such a chaotic land.
She had said she’d be visiting Seohan, the territory governed by the current empress, but no one could predict when war might break out again…
“Duchess of Western!”
A maid’s urgent voice rang out from outside. Maia quickly tucked the letter into a drawer and said,
“Come in.”
The maid, who had been standing at the half-open door, rushed over to Maia, who was sitting by the window.
“What’s the matter?” Maia asked.
“…Today’s newspaper contains something very serious… please, take a look.”
A newspaper? Maia raised an eyebrow and accepted the paper from the maid’s trembling hands.
What could possibly be so—
Maia’s eyes scanned the headline:
[Breaking News! The Lord Rihail Earis appears in the mortal world for the first time in centuries—his suspicious relationship with the Duchess of Western?]
“…?”
What is this, the title of some cheap tabloid affair novel?
As she glanced lower, a familiar black-and-white photo appeared.
It was taken during the outing with Rihi.
[The Lord Rihail Earis and the Duchess of Western were seen leaving a café hand in hand in broad daylight. The café, El Larisa, is a secretive place frequented only by high society. To witness an unfamiliar man and woman acting so intimately in such a location was a shocking sight indeed. Our reporter, Turha Epinaim, describes the shocking moment as follows…]
Maia closed the newspaper, her expression cold.
That outing had been Rihi’s idea.
He had suggested they publicly stage a scene of intimacy.
But since they couldn’t be too obvious, they had agreed to meet at El Larisa, a café known for being used by nobles for discreet dealings and secret rendezvous.
They had visited not long ago, and judging by the news article, it had made more of an impact than Maia expected.
She glanced at the maid, who looked restless.
“Wh-what should we do about this? The Duke of Western must have read it by now… if you allow me, I can send a servant to the newspaper to demand an immediate retraction…”
“No need.”
The maid’s eyes widened in shock.
Maia calmly met her stunned gaze.
“It’s all true, so why should I deny it?”
The maid made a choked sound, overwhelmed by emotion.
“Just stay quiet.”
Maia murmured gently, lifting her teacup to her lips.
The lukewarm tea moistened her mouth.
The plan had gotten off to a smooth start.
The gazes of the servants at the Western Duke’s estate began to shift in complex, subtle ways.
As Maia walked confidently through the wide hallways, she was acutely aware of their eyes.
The article had been published in a well-known newspaper. No doubt many people—aside from that one maid—had read it.
Thankfully, no one spoke openly, but…
Maia stopped and looked up.
A portrait of Livka, the imperial princess, and the Duke of Western still hung in the highest place along the hall.
“…”
Once, she had dreamed of living a happy life, loving the man who had once loved her in return.
But now…
“May you love each other forever.”
That dream was no longer possible. She knew it too well.
Maia turned and walked away without regret.
“…This is…”
The Duke of Western crumpled the newspaper in his fist.
His twisted voice betrayed his disbelief and rage.
His aide, unable to hide his anger, spoke.
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I believe you must ask the Duchess for the truth of this matter.”
The light from the window illuminated the monocle of the man standing before the Duke, obscuring the expression in the Duke’s eyes.
“I’ll speak to her myself.”
The Duke said flatly.
“And the article…?”
“Of course.”
Smack—
“Have it taken down.”
Tossing the newspaper aside, the Duke exited the office without hesitation.
That evening at dinner, Maia studied the man sitting across from her.
He had always been obsessed with appearances.
‘Do you ever stop to consider how others might perceive your words, your expressions, your behavior?’
‘The honor of House Western is the heaviest burden you bear. Never forget that.’
‘His Majesty the Emperor will be attending the trial in person. It may have been better to coordinate your attire accordingly.’
So why wasn’t he confronting her about this?
Maia set down her utensils.
The entire Empire had seen the article about the Duchess of Western and the Lord of the Mage Tower caught in an intimate moment.
Surely, she expected to be interrogated, blamed…
But unexpectedly, he—
“You seem to be going out quite often these days.”
“…Yes.”
As if nothing had happened. As if he knew nothing.
“I’m glad your spirits have improved. Do you plan to return to social gatherings?”
Maia stared into his calm, gray-blue eyes and softly replied,
“No, not at the moment.”
“Very well.”
The Duke lowered his gaze as though the conversation was over.
Confused and hesitant, Maia finally asked,
“…Why aren’t you asking me?”
“Asking what?”
The Duke raised his head. His face showed not a flicker of emotion.
Feeling a strange tension between them, Maia slowly said,
“About the article in the newspaper.”
His expressionless face was so unreadable it filled her with unease.
Maia slowly clenched her hands.
“Does it matter?”
She stared at him in shock.
“If you continue dropping bait, and more articles are published, I’ll simply have them removed.”
His voice was calm—arrogantly so.
Setting his utensils down silently, the Duke continued,
“It’s odd that you would bring this up. It’s obvious what happened. He must have dragged you there without asking.”
“I asked him to go.”
The Duke froze. He slowly lifted his head and locked eyes with Maia.
She met his gaze directly.
“I told Lord Rihail I wanted to spend time alone with him.”
“…”
A cold glint sparked in the Duke’s gray eyes.
“…How am I supposed to interpret that?”
The tension pressing down on her chest suddenly lifted.
“Take it as you heard it.”
“Maia.”
The Duke cut her off, his expression tighter than ever.
“You and Lord Rihail share something that goes beyond ordinary human connection.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
A strange exhilaration rushed through Maia as she replied,
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what it is I want anymore.”
“Maia.”
Now she understood.
She finally realized what was hidden behind the Duke’s aloof reaction until now.
He was anxious.
That calm, detached demeanor had been a façade. In truth, he was shaken—deeply.
But why?
Was it fear that his honor would be dragged through the mud?
Or… was it panic that the woman he always believed would never look away from him suddenly had?
Whichever it was…
“But one thing is certain. Our marriage won’t last much longer.”
The sense of relief didn’t change.
Maia smiled quietly.
The Duke of Western said nothing.
A wall that once seemed impossibly tall was beginning to crack.
Maia turned away from the Duke, deciding to enjoy the moment with serene indifference.
